Why Poverty Persists in America by Jinx Payne

What is this Article About?

zoetpayne2_ — 2024-03-30 21:30:10 UTC

This Article by Mathew Desmond speaks about the reasons why poverty continues to exist at a similar rate in America. He names many reasons such as:

Government money being used incorrectly by the states.

Exploitation of labor (Low paying jobs)

Deindustrialization (Shutting down factories = less jobs)

High rent

Overdraft fees

As well as many other things. He also offers some ways to help with our problem against poverty. Unionizing each section of workers (AKA Sectoral Bargaining.) and expanding housing.

What I Learned

zoetpayne2_ — 2024-03-30 21:36:28 UTC

I learned a bunch of reasons why poverty exists that I didn't know before. I knew about the housing crisis and the exploitation of labor but I didn't really know about the misuse of government money and Deindustrialization. I also thought about this in the context of an educator. There is not really a lot I can do in the classroom besides being accommodating and understanding. However, I can vote for government officials who will fight against poverty. The article also made me consider teacher unions.

Quotes That Made me Think.

zoetpayne2_ — 2024-03-30 21:43:06 UTC

"Poverty isn't simply the condition of not having enough money. It's the condition of not having enough choice and being taken advantage of because of that." - Matthew Desmond

"The United States offers some of the lowest wages in the industrialized world. A larger share of workers in the United States make “low pay” — earning less than two-thirds of median wages — than in any other country belonging to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development." - Matthew Desmond

Citation

zoetpayne2_ — 2024-03-30 21:45:13 UTC

Desmond, M. (2023, March 9). Why poverty persists in America. The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/2023/03/09/magazine/poverty-by-america-matthew-desmond.html